Making Slack Fun: A Step-by-Step Guide to GIF Mastery

Keeping things light at the office is no easy task when bogged down with meetings, emails, and relentless deadlines! Let’s face it–no one wants a boring work culture! Inserting some humor during the daily grind can brighten your colleagues' days and bring a smile amid stressful projects.

Source

Small doses of lighthearted fun can work wonders for engagement without hindering productivity. So bring on the LOLs! This post will teach you how to integrate Giphy into Slack conversations easily in just a few steps. You'll be searching and sharing hilariously relatable reaction GIFs in no time. 

How to Add GIPHY in Slack

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to integrate Giphy in Slack:

1. Open your Slack workspace and navigate to the Apps section on the left-hand side. Look for the More or Manage Apps section to find the directory of apps you can add.

2. In the search bar, type "Giphy" and click on the Giphy app when it appears in the results.

3. On the Giphy app page, click the "Add to Slack" button to begin the integration process.

4. On the next screen, select the channel you want Giphy enabled in from the dropdown menu. You can choose an existing channel or create a new one.

5. Next, review the permission scopes to grant access for Giphy to work properly. Adjust the content rating to limit GIFs to G, PG, PG-13 or R ratings as desired.

6. Decide if you want to enable GIPHY Previews, which privately displays GIFs before posting them publicly. Having this on is recommended to avoid accidentally posting inappropriate content.

7. When your settings are configured, click the "Save Integration" button at the bottom to complete adding Giphy to your Slack workspace.

8. You can now type "/giphy" in your channel to search for and share GIFs directly in Slack messages and conversations. Enjoy!

Note: If you don't have permission to adjust these settings yourself, request that your Slack administrator add Giphy and tailor the configurations for your specific workspace needs. Once installed, you can start searching and sharing GIFs by typing "/giphy" in any integrated channel. Consider the context before posting to ensure content remains respectful.

How to Use GIFs in Slack

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use GIPHY in Slack:

1. Navigate to the Slack channel or direct message where you want to share a GIF. This can be any conversation that has the Giphy integration enabled.

2. In the message composition box, type "/giphy". 

3. Now in the search box type a word or phrase describing the GIF you want. You can get creative and specific with search terms.

4. Hit enter after your search terms. Giphy will then search its massive library of animated GIFs and display potential matches.

5. Scroll through the GIF options using the shuffle button if the initial results aren't what you had in mind.

6. When you find the perfect GIF that encapsulates your thoughts or reactions, click the "Send" button below that GIF to share it in your Slack conversation.

Get delightfully animated reactions in your discussions! Use Giphy for jokes, expressions, pop culture references, or just because!

How to Send GIFs with Sound on Slack

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to send a GIF with sound on Slack using Giphy:

1. Open the Slack channel where you want to share a GIF and type "/giphy" in the chat box.

2. A list will appear, from there select "Find and Share a Clip" instead of the regular GIF option. This will allow you to search for GIFs with audio.

3. Describe or keyword search the type of clip you want in the "Search for a Clip" field and hit enter or click the "Search" button.

4. Preview and shuffle through the clip results just like you would regular GIFs. When you find one you like, click on it first to make sure the audio is appropriate.

5. With the ideal clip selected, click the "Share" button below it to post the loud and proud GIF in your Slack channel for all to see and hear!

Giphy clips add another dimension of reactions and humor to your Slack conversations. Just ensure any audio aligns with workplace guidelines before sending.

Next, we’ve shared some tips for finding the right GIPHY for your Slack conversations.

7 Surefire Tips for Finding the Right GIFs in Slack

• 1Carefully consider the search terms you use before hitting enter. Whatever you type will be visible to others, so keep prompts appropriate.
• 2Always start your search with "/giphy" followed immediately by keywords. Adding an extra space will just post the command text instead of loading GIF options.
• 3Use GIFs in moderation. Flooding conversations with too many can be distracting. Think about how frequently it is appropriate.
• 4Get creative with your keywords! Using specific show references, emojis, or multi-word phrases may yield better results than a generic term.
• 5Know your audience and channel culture before posting. A fun GIF might not suit a serious discussion. Consider whether animated reactions fit the tone.
• 6Take a peek at all the GIF options by clicking "Shuffle" before settling on one to post. You might find something even more applicable.
• 7When in doubt, add “F.R.I.E.N.D.S,” "The Office," or "Schitt's Creek" to your search for reliably humorous GIF results! But filter selections based on professional appropriateness.

Wrapping Up

GIFs are a fun and engaging way to communicate on Slack. With the ability to quickly find and share the perfect reaction GIF for any moment, you can level up your chat and express yourself in creative new ways.

Whether you’re congratulating a teammate, commiserating on a stressful day, or just making your colleagues smile – GIFs let you convey tone and emotion through clever looping animation.

With Slack’s integrated Giphy tool, finding great GIFs is a breeze. And uploading your own custom images is easy too using /gif on any channel. So be bold, get the team talking with witty web-friendly memes. Just don’t overdo it – the best Slack etiquette is to use GIFs when they genuinely add value to the conversation.